A UGM motion on the portering campaign was passed this week despite being branded “equivalent to blackmail” by many students.
The motion, Campaign to Reinstate Portering Hours: First Stage, faced criticism for advocating “drastic action” such as staging protests on the University’s open days and sending press releases to major media outlets, including television and radio stations.
One of the main opponents of the motion, David Clarke, set up a Facebook group urging students to “vote no” to the motion.
“It is not necessary for us to actively seek to damage the university’s reputation,” he claimed.
He went on to state that he firmly believes that “we can make progress on this issue while keeping our relationship with the University intact.”
The motion was hotly debated at the recent UGM with members of YUSU speaking on both sides of the argument.
Despite the “Vote No” campaign, the motion passed with just under 60% of the vote.
Speaking to Vision afterwards Clarke conceded that “with the highest UGM turnout in over a year and a significant margin in favour, this policy undeniably has the support of students.”
However he maintained that progress on portering was still achievable “without the more extreme measures of this policy coming into effect.”
Cases of student welfare being undermined are encouraged to be reported to [email protected]. Following the vote the campaign is ongoing.